1. IIMA 2012 October 15-17, 2012

2. CHICAGO FACTS The largest city in Illinois 3 rd most populous in the US 2.8 million residents Dozens of – cultural institutions, – historical sites – museums 200 theaters 200 art galleries 7,300 restaurants 100 neighborhoods 26 miles of lakefront 15 miles of bathing beaches 36 annual parades 19 miles of lakefront bicycle paths 552 parks Home of US President Barack Obama

3. The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) World's tallest building (1974), now ranked 7 th in the world. Skydeck Chicago: See breathtaking views of Chicago from the Western Hemisphere's tallest building. The Ledge, affords visitors a one-of-a- kind experience of Chicago through a glass floor, 1,353 feet above street level! Navy Pier Build in 1869 as a recreational and shipping facility, now a popular entertainment center 148 ft (45m) high Ferris Wheel Children’s museum, Smith museum of Stained Glass Windows Shakespeare theater complex Starting point for many boat trips 18 hole miniature golf course, a funhouse maze, a beer garden, a 40ft high wave swinger and an IMAX theater.

4. Old Water Tower Build in 1869. The first American Water Landmark. The Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station at Michigan and Chicago avenues are among the few buildings to have survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Museum of Science and Industry One of the most popular museums in the United States. It covers diverse areas like energy, the environment, the human body, space exploration and transportation. It is located in the South Side, not far from the University of Chicago.

5. Shedd Aquarium Located at the Museum Campus, just south of Grant Park. Houses 20,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 different species. Contains several exhibits, the most notable of which are the Caribbean Reef, the Wild Reef and the Oceanarium. Lincoln Park Zoo The largest park in Chicago. Founded in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo is the oldest free public zoo in the country. Lincoln Park Zoo boasts more than 80 species of mammals, from the ordinary to the exotic. Popular mammals found at the zoo include polar bears, sun bears, camels, giraffes, lions and rhinoceros. Polar BearGorilla

6. Field Museum One of the finest natural history museums in the U.S. It gained national acclaim when Steven Spielberg made it the home base for the esteemed archaeologist in his Indiana Jones movies. Art Institute of Chicago Founded in 1879 as both a school and museum The building that originally housed the Art Institute of Chicago was built atop rubble from the great Chicago fire. The permanent collection inside the Art Institute of Chicago is so extensive that it'll take you several hours to explore the whole thing.

7. Millennium Park The 24.5 acre Millennium Park is a magnificent modern park with state of the art facilities, unique public artwork and beautiful gardens. The Clould Gate is among the largest sculpture of its kind in the world, it reflects the magnificent Chicago skyline. Chinatown Chicago's Chinatown isn't just a place for those of Chinese descent to gather. It's a colorful neighborhood for all to enjoy. Lurie Garden Crown Fountain at night Clould Gate

8. Magnificent Mile Northern part of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Lake Shore Drive a grand wide boulevard with exclusive shops, museums, restaurants and ritzy hotels. Shopper's Paradise. All the big names in shopping are present here, from Disney, Apple and Niketown to Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue. The areas around the Magnificent Mile are some of Chicago's wealthiest. Chicago River Flowing through downtown Chicago. Once a corridor of commercial activity, the river has been transformed into a recreational area with sightseeing boats. Along the banks are pedestrian friendly promenades lined with café's and eateries.

9. Chicago Theatre Built in 1921 during the Golden Age of entertainment, the Chicago Theatre was the first of its kind unique architectural touches in this French Baroque-style theater Dubbed "The Wonder Theatre of the World" present top-name live entertainment with a little something from everyone, from pop performers to comedians to international dance troupes. 19 Chicago Chamber of Commerce “The great Central Market,” though its recent emphasis on global trade and on regional economic planning The Chicago area is home to regional chambers of commerce – Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce – Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce, – Polish-American Chamber of Commerce. – French-American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago and – the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce